Struggling to make surgery/reconstruction decision
Hi everyone I have been diagnosed with high grade DCIS with an MRI showing a potential small spot of invasive cancer in my right breast. I have to have a mastectomy and I am booked in for surgery next Monday (8/9) but I am struggling to decide whether to have a bilateral mastectomy and what type of reconstruction to have. I have phone consultations with the plastic surgeon and the breast surgeon tomorrow and have to make the decision during these consultations. I am conflicted with what to do as I am waiting on the results of genetic testing (I had a tumour that was borderline cancer removed in December last year, which included removing an ovary and a fallopian tube) so am extremely fearful of having to go through this again. My initial reaction has been to get rid of both to be on the safe side which my surgeon was supporting but during a phone call with her yesterday she thinks my best option is to do only the affected breast and leave the other one. The reason she is recommending this is the left nipple can not be spared due to this breast being more saggy and the blood flow (don’t really understand it completely so that may not make too much sense) so at then end of the day if I choose to have the bilateral mastectomy I will have no nipples which she is worried I will regret. if I only do the one breast I may have enough fat on my stomach to do the flap surgery and they should be able to spare the nipple. I do not have enough fat on my stomach to do two breasts so would need to also take fat from my thighs. I have decided against this due to the scars that would be left in my thighs so if I have the bilateral mastectomy I would opt for implants. I would appreciate any input from anyone who has had a similar experience as I am at a loss what to do and only have tomorrow to decide. Specifically, if anyone has had to choose between a single or double mastectomy and has experience with nipple-sparing versus non-nipple-sparing procedures, or if anyone has had regrets about their choice, I would really value hearing your perspective. Any advice or experience would be a huge help right now. Thanks.
Surgery decisions
Hi everyone, So many decisions. I am having ALL the treatment started with 8 weeks of 4 F/N treatment of AC medication. By the end i was cooked. Now at the half way mark of my intended 12 weeks PAC treatment i don't think ill make thr full course as the side effects ramp up. Then Radiotherapy of up to 5 weeks of targeted therapy. They weren't lying when they said prepare for a marathon. I have hormone related lubenal BC to my left ONLY. Based in Melbourne. Post radiotherapy i have to make a decision about surgery. A mastectomy is required as the chest wall has shown intrusion there so I have been advised the surgery will mean they will take half or all the chest wall. And they also want to remove the lymph nodes. The surgeon has shown me pictures and he wasn't lying when he said it can be quite disfiguring. I thought I was certain I wouldn't care about being flat but the disfiguring images have made me reassess. I will not have the opt to do an implants. The choices are as follows. 1.Left removal stay flat or left removal diep recon. Dispose other half of diep flap. 2.Double mastectomy removal remain flat or diep recon using all flap. Im so overwhelmed and worried that if i choose flat especially on left that i might regret not doing recon. Recon and mastectomy and recovery time and double wound sites of areas that didn't need to be cut also flip me each day I think im going this way then I flip and go another way each day is different mostly im unsure whether I should continue cutting into parts of my body that have no issue. What im hoping to gain from the group are lived experiences as to what made you come to the decision you did. Any experience that might have had similar options presented to you. What was recovery like? What did you prepare for post surgery? What tips could you recommend for pre and post surgery rest and care. I fly at least once a month for my work and am told I will need compression stocking on my arms before during and post flights. This BC is like a gift that keeps giving the worse gifts. Then to find out in review that even the Hormone blocking meds come with its own side effects some people reporting its worst than treatment! Anyway sorry for the long post but will welcome anyone's share of experience. Thank you and i wish you courage and bravery if you are straddling this journey too!Perth Breast Reconstruction Support Group Lunch
Herdsman Lake Tavern, Herdsman Parade Wembley, Saturday 30th August 12:30pm. This is the place to speak with other ladies who have done Breast Reconstruction to get all those tips to make recovery that little bit easier. We also have Simone Hall the 3D Nipple Tattooist who will be there with her temporary tattoos you can purchase to see what a huge difference they make to a breast mound. You may bring a female friend along for company.
Mastectomy/Diep flap reconstruction - What to prepare for
Hello, I am heading into hospital shortly for a Mastectomy with a DIEP flap reconstruction at same time. I am starting to prepare everything now, ie stocking freezer, ensuring I have everything at home ready and staying to look at what to pack for my stay in hospital (5 days). My Plastic Surgery has asked that I bring in post op bra and if I have spanx or similar bring that in. The bra was no issue I got ones from Kmart and Berlei. In terms of compression pants, I am at a lose. So much on the market, Any recommendations, do I go for underwear type, shorts or just stomach ones. I would be grateful for any tips.Perth Breast Reconstruction Support Group Lunch
Join us on Saturday 28th June 12:30pm Herdsman Lake Tavern Wembley to meet with other ladies who have done reconstruction. Simone Hall the tattooist will be there to answer your questions about 3D nipple tattooing & you can purchase her temporary 3D nipple tattoos to see what a huge difference those circles of colour will make. You may bring a female friend for company - you will find us in the function room. We are a very informal friendly group - so bring your questions along and get realistic answers of what to expect.
Radiotherapy after skin-sparing mastectomy & diep-flap-reconstruction?
Has anyone had radiotherapy done after their skin-sparing mastectomy & diep-flap reconstruction? Did it cause any issues with the breast flap? like hardening or shrinking? I had no lymph node involvement and had clear margins. It was decided in a team meeting with radio oncologist for me to have 5 weeks of radiation on the flap, due to younger age, size of lump (ILC-5cm) - although it was 2 bits lumped together into one and grade 2, pathology of the sample found focal-vascular-space-invasion, which hadn't spread anywhere outside the breast, but radio oncologist thought it could spread to lymph nodes in the future. Does this warrant radiation? I am on zoladex and ai. I have an appointment with the surgeon to discuss further but wanted to see if anyone has any suggestions or similar experience?
DIEP Surgery
Hello Pink Sisters I had DIEP surgery late last year and will be undergoing phase 2 in a few months. I can’t help but be frustrated by the back fat pockets that have appeared since surgery. My diet is well balanced and I regularly exercise. I’m hoping it’s not because I’m getting old and saggy. My surgeon said he wouldn’t be able to remove it under the cancer medical umbrella. It would be classified as elective surgery because he doesn’t think that it’s a result of DIEP surgery. Has anyone experienced something similar and had it removed in phase 2 of DIEP surgery?Flat or DIEP Flap - doing my head in
I've looked online, and spoken with friends and others who've been through it, but my indecision is doing my head in. The time between available surgeon consultations is really dragging this out and giving me more time to work it out. History Bilateral BC, double mastectomy with immediate silicon implant reconstruction last October. In January, midway through chemo, an unknown infection sent me to hospital, and was only resolved once one of the implants was removed (during that stay, I was double-dosed on a strong antibiotic and my kidneys shut down temporarily). Now So now I have one implant, one deflated. I thought I definitely wanted DIEP Flap, but now I'm second guessing myself about possibly going Flat pack. I have thought about it a lot, and am currently continuing to lose sleep over it. I know this is my decision, but I would appreciate your thoughts, opinions and comments. I plan on trying your words on for size and seeing what resonates for me. How did you decide? Thank you in advance I want both the same - either filled or flat. (I know it won't be perfectly symmetrical) I'm tired of uneven. I like the shape of boobs. I'm 59, I know they've fulfilled any physical purpose they may have been needed for. I had a full hysterectomy 11 years ago, and boobs are part of what helps me still feel like a woman. The12 months since diagnosis have been a rollercoaster of tests, research, learning, surgeries and hospital stays. I'm ready for these boob chapters to be all over. I know my friends and family love me regardless of my shape. Other considerations DIEP flap - costs a lot - it's a long surgery - could be hard on my kidneys - long recovery The future could still include - revision surgery - more scans - random nerve pains Associated tummy tuck would be good! There are more fun things to do with 30 grand. When it comes down to it, Costs and risks. What if I regret my decision? DIEP Flap - having things go wrong, either with the surgery, the result, or down the track Flat - feeling less me From your personal experience, is there more I haven't considered? Thank you 🙏 P. S. I know this post is all over the place, but so is my head 😏
Lumpectomy didn't work - now what?
After being diagnosed on my 50th birthday, I'm now staring down the mastectomy path given we didn't get clear margins on the lumpectomy. No chemo or radiation required. Of course I've got the standard myriad of questions, and given the fonts of knowledge here I'm hoping for some words of wisdom on how people came to their decisions on the following (noting there's no right and wrong, but hoping there's some others out there that can share how they figured out what was best for them): Unilateral v Bilateral? I've only got in my right breast, but the thought of going through this twice is beyond me. For those in a similar position that opted for a bilateral, do you wish things were different? Do you miss having your own tissue? Implant v DIEP? I'm terrified of the pain and recovery aspects of the DIEP but on the flip side I'm also scared of having to revisit implants in 10-15rs time. Small-breasted women - you're my peeps! I'm only an A/B cup, so hoping some of you with similar build are able to jump on and let me know your thought processes, too - did you stay small, take advantage of going up a size etc. Thank you for reading, and look forward to your insights xoxBoth !! Triple negative and HER2 positive diagnosis in the same breast synchronous
Hi i have just had a left breast full mastectomy and sentinel node/s excision due to initial diagnosis of extensive high grade DCIS. I had DIEP flap reconstruction at the same time. Tests of the removed tissue indicate both Triple negative and HER2 positive cancers (early stage) in the same breast at the same time. My surgeons are on leave. I have only received a partial summary report so far and don’t get full results or next steps for treatment til end of January. Is this unusual to have 2 types of BC at once? In the same breast? Any others have similar experience. The half news and lack of next steps just now with all the specialists away is a psychological and emotional challenge. Advice appreciated thank you 🙏🏼
